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| Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 31 | 
Jun 20, 2009, 11:44 AM
 Re: Pointers for Success in Nursing School
I'm about to start my second semester of nursing school in the fall, I will have two days of lecture and one day of clinical in the hospital. I recently was hired full time in the ER as a tech because I am in desperate need of health insurance I work with five other people who work full time and also go to school however many of the Nurses and hire ups feel that it is next to impossible to be successful in nursing school while working full time is this true?
 | | No. 32 |
Jun 20, 2009, 04:52 PM
Re: Pointers for Success in Nursing School Originally Posted by tahearn  I'm about to start my second semester of nursing school in the fall, I will have two days of lecture and one day of clinical in the hospital. I recently was hired full time in the ER as a tech because I am in desperate need of health insurance I work with five other people who work full time and also go to school however many of the Nurses and hire ups feel that it is next to impossible to be successful in nursing school while working full time is this true?
I sure hope not..... I will be starting nursing school soon - finished my prereqs & coreqs - but due to financial considerations I must continue to work full time. I work in a non-clinical support position at a big-city hospital, but I hope to become a CNA there while I am waiting. So it's either work full time while in school or it just doesn't happen. I believe in the old saying "where there's a will, there's a way". It hasn't been easy so far, juggling school schedules, work schedules, and home/family life. I will say that it helps to have a supportive spouse at home, which I do. My wife (who also works at the same hospital I do) helps in so many little ways... I say realistically that yes, it's going to be hard, but it's very doable. As far as education goes, you have to stay on top of things, and not let yourself fall behind. IMO your ER tech experience will be a plus. That's why I'm trying to get on as a CNA. I need hands-on experience in patient care in a hospital setting, as well as classroom. I'll be using some of the intervening time between now and start of nursing school to apply some of the suggestions that I've read here on allnurses.com, like studying up on nursing math and dosage calculations, reviewing A&P and microbiology so that it stays fresh in my memory, etc., reviewing and reading about different types of drugs and their interactions etc. Anything that will help give me a leg up on things when I'm ready to start nursing school. Hopefully by then I'll be a CNA, and yes it will be a full-time job, but I will consider it a part of my schooling also.
| | No. 33 |
Jun 26, 2009, 02:40 PM
Re: Pointers for Success in Nursing School
Do you recommend the NCLEX Comprehensive review as a tool for those just starting in NS or just for those about to complete?
| | No. 34 |
Jun 26, 2009, 05:05 PM
Re: Pointers for Success in Nursing School Originally Posted by DolceVita Do you recommend the NCLEX Comprehensive review as a tool for those just starting in NS or just for those about to complete?
I recommend the Saunder's Comprehensive Review (broken down into subject material) throughout the nursing program (not just at the end of the program). This is one of the critical keys to success.
| | No. 35 |
Jun 26, 2009, 05:08 PM
Re: Pointers for Success in Nursing School Originally Posted by tahearn I'm about to start my second semester of nursing school in the fall, I will have two days of lecture and one day of clinical in the hospital. I recently was hired full time in the ER as a tech because I am in desperate need of health insurance I work with five other people who work full time and also go to school however many of the Nurses and hire ups feel that it is next to impossible to be successful in nursing school while working full time is this true?
It is very difficult, but can be done. You will also need to negotiate with your clinical instructors about your work schedule on the night before your clinical. Many schools of nursing forbid working into the night right before your clinical experience, as this may cause the student to be very sleepy and prone to mistakes. Best wishes to you.
| | No. 36 |
Jun 27, 2009, 01:55 PM
Re: Pointers for Success in Nursing School
VickyRN,
Your post are so helpful. When I log in and see your name, it's the first post I click on! I have a question that is "slightly" related to this thread...do you have any suggestions for those of us who struggle with study groups/group projects? I'm an older student. I am always careful to be respectful of my fellow students. I am very private about my grades and test scores (they've been quite high, but I don't tell.)
I get along just fine with everybody at school, but I find I study much better at home, alone. I don't doubt my ability to be a "team player" when a team is needed, but I wonder if I'm missing something important by not wanting to be part of a study group? So many posters credit their study groups with much of their success.
Have you had students who did just as well on their own? Is it just a difference in learning styles? Or is this something I need to make myself learn to do?
Thank you for sharing your perspectives with us!
| | No. 37 |
Jun 27, 2009, 08:14 PM
Updated
Jun 28, 2009 at 07:57 AM by VickyRN
Re: Pointers for Success in Nursing School Originally Posted by KatyAtlanta VickyRN,
Your post are so helpful. When I log in and see your name, it's the first post I click on! I have a question that is "slightly" related to this thread...do you have any suggestions for those of us who struggle with study groups/group projects? I'm an older student. I am always careful to be respectful of my fellow students. I am very private about my grades and test scores (they've been quite high, but I don't tell.)
I get along just fine with everybody at school, but I find I study much better at home, alone. I don't doubt my ability to be a "team player" when a team is needed, but I wonder if I'm missing something important by not wanting to be part of a study group? So many posters credit their study groups with much of their success.
Have you had students who did just as well on their own? Is it just a difference in learning styles? Or is this something I need to make myself learn to do?
Thank you for sharing your perspectives with us!
Thank you for your kind comments, KatyAtlanta  As long as your pattern of studying is working for you, then studying solo should be fine. I was like you - I studied well on my own and was not a "study group" kind of person. I ended up with a high GPA throughout all levels of nursing school (lol, I'm still at it - now studying for my PhD).
In terms of group projects, the majority of these were positive experiences for me. However, there were a few in which one or two of the students did not pull their weight. I took it in stride, and tried not to make a big deal out of it. I work well as a team with other faculty and also in my secondary (staff nurse) job. At least for me, there doesn't seem to be any correlation between working harmoniously with others on the job and prior experience with group projects/ study groups.
| | No. 39 |
Jul 11, 2009, 07:10 PM
Re: Pointers for Success in Nursing School Originally Posted by psychonaut Great tips, and allow me to add one of my own: seek out clinical opportunities, especially ones that involve more "doing", and less "observing."
You may be told by faculty "you'll learn to do _____ in your first year of nursing, focus on critical thinking for now."
I am the very last person to discount the value of "critical thinking" in nursing practice. However, I felt some aspects of my nursing education were deficient, especially in the area of clinical skills. I also realize that I bear a great share of the responsibility for not being more proactive in seeking out clinical activities.
Hopefully, you will find staff nurses in your clinical areas who love students. Except for psych, I can remember at least one staff nurse in each of my clinical rotations who eagerly took students (who had the positive attitude Vicky describes). These types of nurses truly "made" my clinical experience, and my only regret is allowing my own nervousness and fear of looking foolish hold me back.
OK, so I just wrote out the tale of my first (and only) IV start in school, but I've rambled enough already, so I'll skip it. Take home point: this is a profession that takes brains and guts, but it is first and foremost a *clinical* profession. Seek out every clinical opportunity you can get!
I'm taking your advice - I've just been accepted into a ten-week CNA training program at the hospital where I work while I'm waiting for my placement in nursing school, which will probably happen in the fall of 2010. By then I hope to have a great deal of hands-on clinical experience as a CNA before I start nursing classes. I've heard from many others that having actual hospital experience as a CNA, HUS, or med tech will give you a "leg up" when you are taking nursing classes and doing clinicals.
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